The children of Odin - Germanic Mythology

ODIN THE WANDERER 97
wisdom, and words would be at their command that would make
wisdom loved and remembered.
How Odin won the Magic Mead out of the rock-covered
cavern where Suttung had hidden it, and how he broke the
enchantment that lay upon Gunnlod, Suttung's daughter, is a
story which is often told around the hearths of men.
INE strong thralls were mowing in a field as a
Wanderer went by clad in a dark blue cloak and
carrying a wanderer's staff in his hand. One
of the thralls spoke to the Wanderer : "Tell them
in the house of Baugi up yonder that I can mow
no more until a whetstone to sharpen my scythe
is sent to me." "Here is a whetstone," said the Wanderer, and
he took one from his belt. The thrall who had spoken whetted
his scythe with it and began to mow. The grass went down before
his scythe as if the wind had cut it. "Give us the whetstone,
give us the whetstone," cried the other thralls. The Wanderer
threw the whetstone amongst them, leaving them quarrelling
over it, and went on his way.
The Wanderer came to the house of Baugi, the brother of
Suttung. He rested in Baugi's house, and at supper time he was
given food at the great table. And while he was eating with the
Giant a Messenger from the field came in.
"Baugi," said the Messenger, "your nine thralls are all dead.
They killed each other with their scythes, fighting in the field
about a whetstone. There are no thralls now to do your work."